All State Policies: Wisconsin
Who’s Responsible?
Below are short descriptions of relevant state agencies/departments by policy topic, followed by more information on specific policies.
Drinking Water: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Drinking Water and Groundwater Program “manages activities that affect the safety, quality and availability of drinking water to protect public health and our water resources.” Wisconsin Administrative Codes that relate to private and public drinking water can be accessed here. The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board sets policy for the DNR and exercises authority and responsibility in accordance with state laws. According to the Department of Health Services, 40% of Wisconsin residents get their drinking water from private wells, with the rest accessing drinking water from public water systems. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) oversees more than 575 drinking water utilities in the state. The PSC’s Division of Water Utility and Regulation and Analysis establishes water rates and service standards, reviews construction projects and utility organizational and financial transactions, investigate complaints, promotes effectiveness and viability of utilities, and manages information, records, and data.
Policies
Drinking Water
Senate Bill 48
02/21/2018
Added a statute related to financial assistance for “lead-containing customer-side water service lines”, enabling a water public utility to provide financial assistance to the owner of a property to assist in replacing the customer-side of lead service lines. Under the bill, “if a water public utility provides financial assistance for replacing service lines containing lead, the Public Service Commission must include the cost of providing that financial assistance in its determination of water rates.”
Environmental Justice
Healthy Rivers
Open Water Data
Water Funding
Wisconsin 2023 Assembly Bill 222
4/4/2024 (Signed)
This law requires the Division of Emergency Management to create and administer a pre-disaster flood resilience grant program. Implementation grants awarded are meant to support hydraulic restoration projects that advance nature based solutions.
